Acetylene-gas generator.



R. N. KARNES.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. APPLIOATION FILED 11111.15, 1913.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Em-WASHINGTON. I:v c.

UNITE STATES ROBERT N. KARNES, or MEDINA, TENNESSEE.

ACE'IYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

LOS IAdS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT N. Kimmie, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Medina, in the county of Gibson and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in acetylene gas generators and has particular application to a feeding mechanism for such generators whereby the feeding of the carbid to the generating tank is automatically controlled by the bell of the gasometer.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a feeding mecha nism for acetylene gas generators which will embody among other features, a hopper for the carbid, a spout interposed between the hopper and the generating tank and pro vided with a passage, and a vertically sliding flat valve controlling such passage whereby the carbid may be fed to the generating chamber when such is necessary and in such manner that any lumps of the carbid will not interfere with the proper working of the valve.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of an acetylene gas generator eq'uipped with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the hopper.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, A designates the generating chamber of a conventional type of acety lene gas generator while B denotes the gasometer of such generator and includes a water receptacle 1 and a gas bell 2 movable relatively to the water receptacle and telescoping therein as usual.

The numeral 3 designates the top of the generating chamber and, in the present instance, is formed with a centrally arranged threaded opening 1.

In the present instance, the gas space of the generating chamber and the similar space of the gasometer are in communication with each other by way of a conduit 30 provided, between the gasometer and the generating chamber, with an outlet pipe 31 by means of which any residue within the lower Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 15, 1913.

Patented Jan. 13 1914.

Serial No. 742,252.

'portion of the conduit may be drained off. Leading out of the'gasometer and communicating with the gas space thereof is a conduit 32 by means of which the gas in the gasometer may be conveyed to any desired locality for consumption. chamber is provided with a water filling funnel or spout 33while the gasometer is equipped with a similar spout 34: and the water spaces of the gasometer and generating chamber are in open communication with one another by way of a pipe 35 so that the water levels in the generating chamber and gasometer will be the same.

Surmounting the generating chamber A is a hopper 5 designed to contain the carbid and adapted to have communication with the generating chamber by way of the opening 1 in the top thereof. Interposed bet-ween the hopper 5 and the generating tank, is a spout 6 having one end fastened in any suitable manner to the discharge end of the hopper, while the opposite end thereof threadedly engages the wall of the opening t in the top of the generating tank. This spout 6, in the present instance, is provided on its interior adjacent to the hopper end thereof with blocks 7 7 having the adjacent faces thereof spaced apart to form a vertical guideway 8 and the relatively opposite ends thereof concaved diagonally to form a passage 9 adapted to establish. communication between the hopper and the generating tank. Suitably fastened to one extremity of the upper end of the spout 6 and arranged approximately centrally of the hopper 5 is a guidev 10 alining with the guideway 8 formed by the blocks 7 and of a cross sectional configuration corresponding to that of the guideway, the free end of the guide 10 terminating short of the upper end of the hopper Secured, in any suitable manner, to the inner surface of the hopper 5 adjacent to the lower end thereof and connected to the guide 10 is a brace 11 designed to assist in supporting the guide within the hopper. Mounted within the guide 10 and the guideway 8 and slidable vertically therein is a fiat valve 12 formed with an opening 18 adapted to registerwith the diagonal passage 9 to form an uninterrupted or open pathway for the carbid contained in the hopper whereby such carbid may be introduced into the generating tank. This flat valve 12 has one wall of the opening 13 therein beveled as at 14c and designed, when the valve is The generating moved upwardly to cut off communication between the hopper and the generating tank, to carry any lumps of the carbid out of that portion of thediagonal passage within the hopper and back into the latter, thereby preventing choking of the valve and the consequent loss of carbid and gas incident thereto.

Ihe numeral 15 designates a cover for the upper end of the hopper 5, and this cover,

in the present instance, is provided with a circumferentially extending flange 16 designed to embrace the marginal edge of the side wall of the hopper at the open end thereof. Formed in the cover 15 approximately centrally thereof is an opening in which is arranged a suitable gas tight Stuffing box 17 through which is passed a valve stem 18, one end of the latter being formed integral with the adjacent extremity of the fiat valve 12, while the opposite end thereof projects upwardly beyond the cover of the hopper.

ecured to the upper end of the hopper 5 as by brackets 19 and spaced apart therefrom is an annulus 20 provided with a series of apertures 21 with which is interchangeably associated a pin 22. A supporting post 23 has one end thereof apertured as at 24 to receive the pin 22, while pivotally connected to the upper end thereof as at 25 is one end of a valve actuating lever 26 formed, at an appropriate distance from the pivoted end thereof, with an elongated slot 27, through which is passed the headed up per end of the valve stem 18, the free extremity of the lever 26 being disposed in the path of movement of the bell 2 of the gasometer. Thus, it will be seen that as the bell of the gasometer rises under the increased volume of the gas, the valve actuating lever 26 will be swung about its pivotal connection with the supporting post 23 and thereby elevate the flat valve 12 with the effect to close the passage 9 and so cut 011 communication between the carbid hopper and the generating tank. 011 the contrary, when the bell descends incident to the consumption of the gas, the valve will gravitate to an open position, that is, the opening 13 therein will register with the diagonal passage 9 so that the carbid contained in the hopper may flow into the generating tank. As the hopper is frequently detached from the generating tank for various purposes, the position of the supporting post 23 will be changed or varied and in orderto properly position such post irrespective of the movement of the hopper in the detaching and applying of the same, the pin 22 and apertures 21 are employed whereby the position ofthe post on the annulus may be va ried so that the bell end of the valve actuating lever will be at all times within the path of movement of the bell. If found desirable or advisable, the free end of the valve actuating lever may be directly connected to the bell in order to insure the positive opening of the valve when the bell descends.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. It will be seen that I have provided a feeding mechanism for acetylene gas generators wherein the carbid controlling valve may be operated effectively and positively to open and close the carbid hopper to the generating tank and wherein choking of the valve, incident to lumps of the carbid lodging thereagainst is obviated.

While I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construct-ion herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claim and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

In an acetylene gas generator, a generating tank, a carbid hopper adapted to have communication with the tank, a spout interposed between the tank and the hopper and provided at one end on its interior with blocks having the adjacent faces spaced apart to form a guideway and the relatively opposite ends thereof cut out to form a diagonal passage, a fiat valve slidably mounted within the guideway and provided with an opening adapted to register with the passage whereby the carbid may pass from the hopper into the tank, and means for controlling the valve.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT N. KARNES.

W'itnesses:

H. B. TooMs, J. B. TURNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

